The Exposome -Autoimmune Connection: Case Based Discussions
The Exposome -Autoimmune Connection: Case Based Discussions from PLMI on Vimeo.
The most challenging and possibly most crucial aspect of understanding autoimmunity is finding the root causes and early events that trigger what can be years of suffering. Environmental agents have been gaining more attention in recent years for their role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Based on more than 40 years of clinically focused immune research on the impact of the exposome under the direction of Dr. Aristo Vodjani has resulted in the development of the Cyrex assessment system, which is focused on the contribution of the exposome, microbiome and the immunome in triggering autoimmune disorders resulting in personalized patient management. In this presentation, the faculty will discuss the role of major exposome factors such as food, toxic chemicals, and pathogens in autoimmunity, the potential mechanisms by which these environmental agents contribute to autoimmune diseases, and feature case reports showing how helpful the Cyrex system can be in identifying problems and designing treatment modalities.
Speakers
-
Jeff Bland, PhDJeffrey Bland, PhD, is a pioneering figure in the food-is-medicine movement and a leading expert in nutritional biochemistry. As founder of Big Bold Health, he now focuses on longevity through immune health, championing the concept of immune rejuvenation as a pathway to healthy aging. Dr. Bland’s work highlights the powerful role of plant polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids in supporting immune resilience. Widely known as the “father of Functional Medicine,” he has spent more than 40 years advancing nutrition science, regenerative agriculture, and personalized approaches to lifelong vitality.
Dr. Bland began his career in academia as a university professor. In the early 1980s, he became a protégé of two-time Nobel Laureate, Dr. Linus Pauling. Dr. Bland then spent decades as a natural products industry insider and entrepreneur, while also serving as a scientific advisor and mentor to dynamic founders and leading brands.
A lifelong educator, Dr. Bland has traveled the world many times over as a renowned speaker. In 1991, he and his wife, Susan, founded The Institute for Functional Medicine. In 2012, they established another educational nonprofit called The Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute, which brings together researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to focus on new models of healthcare delivery, advancements in medical nutrition therapy, and exciting emerging science.
Dr. Bland is the author of The Disease Delusion: Conquering the Causes of Chronic Illness for a Healthier, Longer, and Happier Life, as well as additional books and many research papers. His next book will be published by HarperCollins in March 2027. The Nourished Gene: Rejuvenate Your Immunity, Reverse Chronic Symptoms, and Activate Your Longevity is now available for pre-order from all major booksellers.
-
Aristo Vojdani, PhDAristo Vojdani obtained his BSc, MSc and PhD in microbiology and clinical immunology from Bar-Ilan University, Israel, with postdoctoral studies in comparative immunology at UCLA and tumor immunology at Charles Drew/UCLA School of Medicine and Science. He is a Clinical Professor at Loma Linda University in California, and an Adjunct Professor at the Lincoln College of Professional, Graduate and Continuing Education at the National University of Health Sciences. His ongoing research focuses on the role of environmental triggers in complex diseases, and he has developed more than 300 antibody assays for the detection of autoimmune disorders and other diseases. He has 17 US patents, over 200 articles, and 2 books, “Neuroimmunity and the Brain-Gut Connection” and “Food-Associated Autoimmunities: When Food Breaks Your Immune System,” to his name. He is the CEO of Immunosciences Lab in Los Angeles, California, the Chief Scientific Advisor for Cyrex Labs in Phoenix, Arizona, and sits on the editorial board of 5 scientific journals. His many awards include the Herbert J. Rinkel Award (American Academy of Environmental Medicine), the Linus Pauling, PhD Award (American College for Advancement in Medicine), and the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute Lifetime Achievement Award.
-
Elroy Vojdani, MDDr. Elroy Vojdani, MD is the founder of Regenera Medical, a boutique functional and immune medicine practice in Los Angeles focused on the intersection of immunology, metabolism, and environmental health. After graduating from the University of Southern California School of Medicine and completing his residency at the USC Keck School of Medicine, Dr. Vojdani began his career as an interventional radiologist, diagnosing and treating complex late-stage cancers and other severe diseases.
While this experience provided deep insight into hospital-based medicine, his passion for preventing disease before it progresses into chronic illness led him to pursue a root-cause, systems-based approach to care. Today, he focuses on identifying the biological drivers of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions and continues in his father’s footsteps, seeking answers to medical conditions that often go undiagnosed or untreated.
Dr. Vojdani has co-authored more than 35 scientific publications and remains actively involved in research related to autoimmune, neurodegenerative, and autoinflammatory diseases. He is also the co-author of the medical textbook Food Associated Autoimmunity and the author of When Food Bites Back, with a forthcoming book, The Immunometabolic Code, exploring the relationship between immune regulation, metabolism, and chronic disease.
